Weirdest effective exercises

Patrick Falcon said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

The original donkey calf raise. Here's Arnold and Dave from the old
days:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/donkeycalf.jpg
--

JMW
http://www.rustyiron.net

JMW said:

Patrick Falcon said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

The original donkey calf raise. Here's Arnold and Dave from the old
days:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/donkeycalf.jpg

LOL! Yeah, to judge by Dave Draper's legs, the exercise seems to
work, but I can see why someone might think this exercise was
developed by Bob Paris.

Patrick Falcon

Patrick Falcon said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

Any olympic lifting exercise or oly lifting assist exercise.

Barbell hack squats might be close.

Patrick Falcon said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

Probably tib raises; external rotator work, Cuban press/muscle [censored];
overhead squats; board press, floor press; Zercher squats; Zottman
curls; one-arm swings/DB or kettlebell [censored]; swiss ball crunches,
Roman chair situps; uh... slow, controlled movements...

-Adam

"Patrick Falcon" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

Patrick Falcon

reverse grip bench press

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 20:45:57 GMT, Adam Fahy <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Patrick Falcon said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

Probably tib raises; external rotator work, Cuban press/muscle [censored];
overhead squats; board press, floor press; Zercher squats; Zottman
curls; one-arm swings/DB or kettlebell [censored]; swiss ball crunches,
Roman chair situps; uh... slow, controlled movements...

I'd agree with most of those, especially the kettlebell [censored]. And
anyone who tried a Cuban press in a chrome-and-tone fitness center
would probably be stopped by a "trainer" and his form would be
"corrected."

Actually, pretty much any kettlebell stuff seems weird to most
barbell/dumbbell users in America. The Turkish getup is especially
so.

Patrick Falcon

"Patrick Falcon" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

I do reverse hypers on the hyper machine at my gym by using it...err...in
reverse. I lay over the outside (where your chest&head usually goes) and
hold onto the foot pad.

One guy watched me once and said I should get "Why be" and "normal?" written
across the bottom of the soles of my shoes.

I've never seen anyone else _ever_ do these, but I find them to be great for
my glutes, hams, and hip flexors.

Selene

--

Don't top post in this NG - it's a tough crowd and you don't want to annoy
them. --Tim Williams

Selene said:

"Patrick Falcon" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

I do reverse hypers on the hyper machine at my gym by using it...err...in
reverse. I lay over the outside (where your chest&head usually goes) and
hold onto the foot pad.

One guy watched me once and said I should get "Why be" and "normal?" written
across the bottom of the soles of my shoes.

I've never seen anyone else _ever_ do these, but I find them to be great for
my glutes, hams, and hip flexors.

jpegs please

Patrick Falcon said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

Patrick Falcon

Guard rocks, dumbbell breathing, overhead squats.

"T" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Patrick Falcon said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

Patrick Falcon

Guard rocks, dumbbell breathing, overhead squats.

Okay. I'll ask.

What are "guard rocks" and "dumbbell breathing"?

Selene
at least knows OHSs

Selene said:

"T" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Patrick Falcon said:

When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
still quite effective.

What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
lifter think, "What the heck is that?"

Patrick Falcon

Guard rocks, dumbbell breathing, overhead squats.

Okay. I'll ask.

What are "guard rocks" and "dumbbell breathing"?

Lesser-known aka "What the heck is that?" but still quite effective
exercises, naturally. ;-)

Brazilian jujitsu core work.

Dumbbell breathing: lie supine, put a heavy dumbbell on your belly,
breathe to failure. Allegedly helps with knee rides and heavy mounts
like scarf hold aka suffogatame aka [censored] crush.

Guard rocks: get in open guard* and spin. Practice both directions,
though not necessarily in the same session unless you really, really,
really like pain.

* The following description is from rec.martial-arts. It's not *my*
exercise, so don't come for me when your blood turns to acid and then
catches fire, okay? The guy's name is Bill Mahoney, and if you feel an
overwhelming need to kick his ass, go to South Shore Sportfighting most
any night and throw down. Good luck, and tell him T sent you.

Lift your feet toward your face a bit and touch your elbows to your
knees. Now spin in a circle for conditioned abs and back mobility. Do 5
revolutions before you let your feet back down. In an easier version
your elbows don't need to touch your knees, just keep your feet up, your
hand/elbows off the mat and spin. At first you'll waste lots of energy
rocking so your head come up then you'll put it down a few inches away,
but after a while you'll be able to spin sideways smoothly. An observer
will have a hard time seeing where your momentum is coming from. It
comes from a subtle rock up and down which is transferred into sideways
spinning. I've** kept my abs locked for 5 minutes while spinning. It is
HELL.

**Note that the guy who came up with this can do it for 5 minutes, not
me. I'm happy*** if I can do it for two minutes.

*** For certain outlying values of happiness, anyway.

Here's the thread we talked about guard rocks in:
http://tinyurl.com/3ocrb

"T" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Selene said:

"T" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Patrick Falcon wrote:

>When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
>that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
>and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
>still quite effective.
>
>What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
>lifter think, "What the heck is that?"
>
>Patrick Falcon

Guard rocks, dumbbell breathing, overhead squats.

Okay. I'll ask.

What are "guard rocks" and "dumbbell breathing"?

Lesser-known aka "What the heck is that?" but still quite effective
exercises, naturally. ;-)

Brazilian jujitsu core work.

Dumbbell breathing: lie supine, put a heavy dumbbell on your belly,
breathe to failure. Allegedly helps with knee rides and heavy mounts
like scarf hold aka suffogatame aka [censored] crush.

Guard rocks: get in open guard* and spin. Practice both directions,
though not necessarily in the same session unless you really, really,
really like pain.

* The following description is from rec.martial-arts. It's not *my*
exercise, so don't come for me when your blood turns to acid and then
catches fire, okay? The guy's name is Bill Mahoney, and if you feel an
overwhelming need to kick his ass, go to South Shore Sportfighting most
any night and throw down. Good luck, and tell him T sent you.

Not that I have any plans to do this exercise and for sure I'm never going
to go to South Shore Sportfighting and take on some guy named Bill, but
because I asked, now I curious.

In what position do you start this exercise? At first I thought you were
standing on one foot, but then I thought maybe you were on your back? Or in
the "up" part of a "sit-up"?

just wunnerin'
Selene
the pansy

Quoted message said:

Lift your feet toward your face a bit and touch your elbows to your
knees. Now spin in a circle for conditioned abs and back mobility. Do 5
revolutions before you let your feet back down. In an easier version
your elbows don't need to touch your knees, just keep your feet up, your
hand/elbows off the mat and spin. At first you'll waste lots of energy
rocking so your head come up then you'll put it down a few inches away,
but after a while you'll be able to spin sideways smoothly. An observer
will have a hard time seeing where your momentum is coming from. It
comes from a subtle rock up and down which is transferred into sideways
spinning.

Selene said:

"T" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Selene said:

"T" <[email hidden]> wrote

>Patrick Falcon wrote:
>
>
>>When beginners stop by this group, we usually recommend the basics
>>that are known to work: bench press, deadlift, squat, chinup, dip,
>>and so forth. But there are some lesser-known exercises that are
>>still quite effective.
>>
>>What effective exercises do you know of that would make the average
>>lifter think, "What the heck is that?"
>>
>>Patrick Falcon
>
>Guard rocks, dumbbell breathing, overhead squats.

Okay. I'll ask.

What are "guard rocks" and "dumbbell breathing"?

Lesser-known aka "What the heck is that?" but still quite effective
exercises, naturally. ;-)

Brazilian jujitsu core work.

Dumbbell breathing: lie supine, put a heavy dumbbell on your belly,
breathe to failure. Allegedly helps with knee rides and heavy mounts
like scarf hold aka suffogatame aka [censored] crush.

Guard rocks: get in open guard* and spin. Practice both directions,
though not necessarily in the same session unless you really, really,
really like pain.

* The following description is from rec.martial-arts. It's not *my*
exercise, so don't come for me when your blood turns to acid and then
catches fire, okay? The guy's name is Bill Mahoney, and if you feel an
overwhelming need to kick his ass, go to South Shore Sportfighting most
any night and throw down. Good luck, and tell him T sent you.

Not that I have any plans to do this exercise and for sure I'm never going
to go to South Shore Sportfighting and take on some guy named Bill, but
because I asked, now I curious.

In what position do you start this exercise? At first I thought you were
standing on one foot, but then I thought maybe you were on your back? Or in
the "up" part of a "sit-up"?

just wunnerin'
Selene
the pansy

You mean not everyone what open guard position is?! Oops.

Lie on your back, then...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Crunch and touch your elbows to your
knees. Now spin in a circle for conditioned abs and back mobility. Do 5
revolutions before you let your feet back down. In an easier version
your elbows don't need to touch your knees, just keep your feet up, your
hand/elbows off the mat and spin. At first you'll waste lots of energy
rocking so your head come up then you'll put it down a few inches away,
but after a while you'll be able to spin sideways smoothly. An observer
will have a hard time seeing where your momentum is coming from. It
comes from a subtle rock up and down which is transferred into sideways
spinning.